The Senate of Serampore College (University), established under the Serampore College Act, 1918, has been providing theological education for over a century. Initially, the Senate of Serampore College (SSC) offered only residential or regular theological courses such as the Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Divinity, and Master of Theology. However, the SSC later recognized the need to impart theological education through extension programmes in order to strengthen the churches.
Accordingly, in 1989, the SSC launched the Diploma in Christian Studies (DipCS) as a non-residential theological course. In the following year, it introduced the Bachelor of Christian Studies (BCS) as another extension programme. These two extension courses have equipped many lay Christian leaders and thereby strengthened the life and ministry of the churches. In 2001, the SSC established the Senate Centre for Extension and Pastoral Theological Research (SCEPTRE) to further promote theological education by extension. The extension programmes are administered from the SCEPTRE facility in Kolkata city. Over time, additional courses have been added to the extension programme. For instance, the Master of Christian Studies (MCS) was launched in 2012, while the Diploma in Christian Education and the Diploma in Contextual Theology were introduced in 2022.
The primary objective of SCEPTRE is to promotion theological education among lay Christian leaders and other interested individuals who are unable to pursue residential theological studies for various reasons. It also enables trained leaders engaged in full-time ministry, who wish to update their theological knowledge, to continue their theological education through extension programmes. The various extension courses are designed to provide essential biblical, doctrinal, theological, and ministerial knowledge and skills, equipping learners to be more effective in their witness and ministry. However, it should be noted that the extension programmes are not equivalent to regular theological programmes and, therefore, should not be considered as qualifications for teaching in theological colleges or for ordination into church ministry. We are encouraged that the SCEPTRE programmes have been serving and equipping many Christian leaders over the years.